Senior year started with a bang. I was determined to drive my bike every day, and I noticed a small sense of style erupting thanks to Alice's constant shopping trips. I still tried to keep the layers to a minimum but a white leather jacket seemed to be my new go-to. It was a fun and subtle joke between me and my family. I felt like a power ranger!

Even though Bella said she wanted to ignore her birthday, we were obviously not going to abide by her wishes. Alice orchestrated this mini party for her, even though only our family would be attending. I wasn't sure of what to get her so I opted for the easiest option, since she loves to read the classics I got her her favorites- all in first editions. Romeo and Juliet, Withering Heights, Great Expectations, the works.

Edward and I raced to school so we could see Bella before first period. I turned off my bike, then the two of us walked over to where Bella was talking with her friends, they'd quickly gotten over the big "hype" that was the Cullen family. They'd left Bella alone to talk to us.

I got to hug her first, "Happy birthday!" I squealed happily, "We're officially the same age!"

"You stopped aging two years ago," she reminded me yet again.

I rolled my eyes, "Doesn't matter I'm still technically eighteen," I stepped back and let her and my brother have their moment.

"Happy birthday," he breathed looking into her eyes like she was the only girl in the world.

Bella shook her head, "Can you guys stop reminding me?" She requested.

Edward laughed, "Bella your birth is definitely something to celebrate."

She blinked, "Yeah, but my aging's not," she responding dumbly.

"Your aging?" Edward asked clearly amused, as was I, "I think eighteen is a little young to start worrying about that. Right Cate?" I nodded.

"It's one year older than you," she challenged.

"No it's not," Edward retorted, "I'm a hundred and nine."

"Pedo," I coughed earning laughs from the both of them.

Bella nodded to me, "Cate's right. Maybe I shouldn't be dating such an old man, it's gross..." she breathed but by the end they were sucking each other's face.

I let it go on for a second before I couldn't take it anymore, "Hey lovebirds, does the word class mean anything to either of you?" I called out, having given them a few feet.

They pulled away but Edward stopped Bella from moving, "Wait, someone wants you," He sighed looking up at me, "Both of you."

"Bella! Cate!" I smiled brightly at the voice, my new friend walked up from who knows where beaming at the two of us.

"Jacob!" Bella and I smiled, I approached automatically while Bella looked to my brother, as if asking for permission.

"I'll leave you to talk," he said giving us some space.

Bella gave him a grateful look and joined us, I pulled away from a small hug as she greeted him, "Hello biceps!" She laughed, "You know, anabolic steroids are really bad for you."

There was laughter between the three of us, "I'm just filling out Bella. You know," He told her, "It wouldn't seem so drastic if we hung out more," he noted and I felt the attraction he was trying to put out to no avail.

Bella almost seemed ignorant to his come-on, but I knew she was smarter than that, "You should switch schools. Come hang out with the pale-faces," she joked.

"I'm alright. I prefer the rez school's exclusivity. They let any old riffraff into this place."

I gasped in mock hurt, "Wow, okay I'll just leave then-" I turned to leave but Jacob quickly grabbed my arm and brought me back chuckling.

"You know I don't mean you."

I rolled my eyes, "So what are you doing here then?"

"I was just buying a part for the Rabbit," he told us, I nodded, he'd mentioned the car he was putting together when we'd first met, "You both should really come take a ride when it's done."

"Is it fast?" Bella asked.

He started stuttering, "It-it's decent," we laughed.

I pointed to my bike, "Looks like my bike will drive circles round your Rabbit," I mocked.

Jacob's eyes gleamed, he looked over to Bella, "Hey, happy birthday," he remembered whilst reaching into his pocket, "Your dad told my dad, so..."

She nodded, "Right...of course he did."

The mood went serious as I watched their exchange, "I saw this the other day and thought of you," he pulled out a beautiful little dreamcatcher, "it catches bad dreams," he explained.

Bella smiled at it, "That's...kinda perfect," she thanked holding it carefully in her hand. They gave a quick hug and I saw Jacob giving Edward a challenging look before Bella went to join him.

"I'll talk to you later Jake-" I started before he stopped me.

"Hold it, you didn't tell me your birthday was a few months ago," he scolded. I looked at him confused, I'd never even told him when my birthday was, "Charlie mentioned to my dad that your family had a small party. I was kinda upset I didn't get an invitation."

I snorted, "You? In a house full of pale-faces?"

"Okay," he conceded, "I probably wouldn't have gone. But an invitation none-the-less would've been nice. And I still could've given you a present!"

I shook my head, "I really don't need any more gifts Jake," I insisted.

He sighed, knowing there was no way to get around it, "You're in the clear for now," he pulled me into a hug. It was nice, there was no tension on either end. I actually liked having a friend outside the whole supernatural situation, "You should get going, your brother looks ready to take a shot at me," he chuckled.

I turned and saw he was right, Edward's face was stone cold. He looked ready to throw hands, I quickly bid Jacob farewell and followed Edward and Bella into school. Once we were inside Edward started with his questions.

He started with Bella, "So how come Jacob Black gets to give you a gift and I don't?" He gave her a smirk which I tried hard not to gag.

"Cause I have nothing to give back to you," was her response.

The two of them were so serious is was nauseating, "Bella you give me everything just by breathing," he told her.

"You guys are so in love it's revolting," I muttered catching Alice's scent and speeding up to meet her.

"Bella!" She cheered as she bounded down the steps to catch up with us, "Happy birthday!" She exclaimed rushing past me to her.

Bella shushed her while I extended my arms shocked, "What am I chopped liver?"

"Hush you, we live together I see you everyday."

My mouth fell open while Jasper put his arm around my shoulder lazily, "Bella gets all the attention today, it's her day."

I snorted, "Bella gets all the attention even when it's not her birthday," I whispered.

Alice handed Bella a small black box that had a dress I saw her pick out, Bella sighed as she put it in her hands, "I thought I said no presents?"

"Well I've already seen you open it and guess what, you love it!" Alice smiled, "You're going to wear it tonight, at our place," she ordered. When she saw the hard look on her face she politely said, "Please? It will be fun!"

I looked over at Jasper and saw a small smirk on his face. Looking back I saw Bella sigh in defeat, "Okay fine." Alice beamed as she waltzed back over to her mate, who released me to put his arm over her, "Jasper!" Bella called, "No fair with the mood control thing," she told him earning chuckles.

"Sorry Bella," he apologized, "Happy-" he stopped when he felt her get uncomfortable, "Never mind," he fixed before walked away with Alice to their first period.

Bella lightly hit Edward on the chest with the box as she led the way to our English class, "You can't trust vampires," Edward joked.

"Ain't that the truth," I agreed bumping shoulders with him as I walked in to get the isle seat in the back.

~

Class was chill, we were just watching one of the many film adaptations of Romeo and Juliet. The three of us weren't really paying attention considering there was only so many ways to read the same story.

"I hate being celebrated," Bella complained.

"There are worse tragedies, look at Romeo," Edward compared, "Killed his true love out of sheer stupidity."

I looked at him confused, "They killed themselves, if the plan had been communicated better then he wouldn't have believed she was actually dead. He wouldn't kill himself, therefore she wouldn't kill herself and all would've been fine." I rolled my eyes, "People are just so dramatic."

They both disregarded me, "I do envy one thing," Edward noted just as Romeo's death scene played on the screen.

"Juliet is like perfect. If you like that obviously beautiful sort of thing," she responded clearly not getting it.

We both laughed at her ignorance, "Not the girl, the suicide," we spoke in hushed tones to not interrupt the movie or to draw attention to ourselves, "It's nearly impossible for...for someone like me," Edward emphasized the last word. We were all about being subtle and cryptic, it honestly surprised me Bella hadn't picked up any of the hints.

I shrugged, "For humans it's really easy. Any little thing could be their downfall."

Bella looked between the two of us, "Why would you say that?"

"I wanted to die when my family was killed," I told her, "Everyone else knows this by now," I motioned over to Edward meaning the rest of the Cullens, "But when I started to get used to living here...meeting all these new people....I realized there was so much I could be missing out on if I died. It's still hard," I admitted, "But it's not unbearable anymore."

Bella looked at Edward who sat in the middle of us, "I only had to consider it once..." I knew what he was referring to, "I didn't know if I'd get to you in time," he told her, "I had to come up with some kind of plan."

"And he knew none of us would do it," I added sending him a dirty look for even considering asking me to kill him.

"What was the plan?" Bella questioned, I leaned in, he hadn't told us what he was planning to do since we wouldn't kill him.

He sighed, "I'd go to Italy and provoke the Volturi."

"That what?" Bella asked as I thought the same thing.

Edward looked at me cautiously, almost like he knew something he didn't want to tell me. It took him a second before he huffed and opened his mouth to speak again, "The Volturi-" he got interrupted when Mr. Berty our teacher stopped the movie and started speaking loudly.

"Now, who's like to repeat the last few lines of iambic pentameter just to show they were paying attention?" Like the smart-ass he was he called out Edward, trying to catch him and call him out for talking during the film. He was sadly disappointed as Edward recited the lines verbatim, and slowly turned back to the television screen and played the rest of the movie.

That evening I pushed Edward to tell us more about the strange Volturi. We were all dressed and ready for the party which Alice was running round getting the finishing touches done while the three of us stood in Carlisle's office looking at a large painting that hung on the wall.

"The Volturi are a very old, very powerful family. I guess they're the closest thing my world has to royalty."

I studied the painting, my white dress flowing with the light breeze from the open window, on the balcony there were three men, all with matching scarlet eyes. It send a familiar shiver down my back as I remembered not only Laurent, James, and Victoria; but also the red eyed vampires in black robes that killed my tribe, these guys wore different clothing in the painting however, which in a way made me disappointed.

"Is that Carlisle?" Bella asked pointing to the figure in the back I'd almost missed him.

Edward nodded, "He lived with them for a few decades. Described them as very refined. No respect for human life, of course, nor for...any other," I heard the tension in his voice and send a curious look his way but his eyes never wavered from the painting, "But a respect for the arts and the sciences, at least...and the law. Above all the law"

"Vampires have laws?" Bella listened fascinated.

"Not very many. And only a few that's regularly enforced," he spoke softly.

"What is it?"

"That we keep the existence of my kind a secret," he answered and I felt that was obvious, "We don't make spectacles of ourselves, and we don't hunt conspicuously....unless you want to die."

"You gotta stop talking about that," she told him, "I can't even think about someone hurting you."

He went off on his little thing about how only she would be able to hurt him and that's when I zoned out. I stared at the picture of the Volturi leaders until my attention was peaked once more.

"Victoria," Edward spoke, "She'll come for me one day."

I joined in the conversation for the first time, "And I'll rip her apart like I did with James."

They embraced as if I wasn't even there. I took that as a cue to leave, I made my way downstairs and took a second to marvel at how nice it looked. The room was littered with white and red roses and lit candles. It was pretty. But I couldn't stop thinking about what Edward said about the Volturi...how they were basically the vampire police. And even though they didn't ring any bells when I looked back on that dreadful day, I still had questions. So when Alice went to collect Bella and Edward from the study, I quickly whispered to Carlisle.

"Later tonight we need to talk," was all I said.

He looked at me, concern and confusion evident on his face. But it quickly disappeared when the birthday girl appeared at the top of the stairs. The music started playing from the stereo.

Carlisle and Esme greeted her first, "Sorry about all this. We tried to reign Alice in."

"If that were even possible," Esme smiled giving her a hug.

Alice snapped a picture using Bella's camera, "I found it in your bag. Mind?" Bella awkwardly shook her head.

"Dating an older woman, hot," Emmett smirked while Edward gave him a dirty look.

Alice handed Rosalie her gift, to which she quickly handed off to Bella as if it couldn't leave her hand sooner, "It's a necklace...Alice and Cate picked it out," she said, trying to remove herself from responsibility.

I pushed Edward toward his girl so Alice could snap a photo of them together. Then I walked over and grabbed the books having only put a bow on the top, I knew with her clumsiness it would be the best option.

Bella laughed when she saw the simple bow but her eyes brightened when she saw the books, "Thank you Cate!" She squeezed me in a little human hug, "So much!"

I waved it away, "It was nothing!"

Then Alice thrust a box onto her, "This one is from Emmett!"

Bella shook the box and when she found it to be empty she looked at him amused, "Already installed it in your truck. Finally a decent sound system for that piece of cra-" she cut him off.

"Don't hate the truck!"

We laughed as Alice handed her a little envelope, "Open Esme and Carlisle's!"

"Just a little something to brighten your day," Carlisle smiled as they took a few steps forward.

"Yes you've been looking kind of pale lately," Esme joked.

I chuckled, "And that's saying a lot coming from them!"

I smelled it before I saw it, of course Bella would be the one person to get a paper cut and bleed in a room full of vampires. At first I thought we'd be fine, but the moment a drop fell to the floor I saw Jasper lunge. Edward shoved Bella back while I jumped in the middle. It took me and Emmett to hold back a raging Jasper, trying with every fiber in his body to get to Bella.

Alice got in his face trying to calm him down, "Jas, Jas it's okay...it's just a little.......blood."

We all looked over and saw Bella grabbing her arm. When Edward shoved her she'd hit the back wall and broke some of the vases getting glass stuck in her arm causing more blood to pool out. I looked at the other vampires in the room, wondering what the smell must be doing to them. I couldn't fight all of them off of her. I may be strong but I didn't exactly have the numbers.

Carlisle sped over to Bella and lightly grabbed her arm, "Get Jasper out of here," he ordered looking around, his eyes pleading. Emmett and I shoved the hissing vampire out and into the backyard soon followed by everyone else, including Edward.

"Cate can you please go in and stay with Bella?" He asked me.

I looked over at Jasper, who since we got him out of the house started to calm down but I saw the look on his face, he was devastated in himself, "I'm fine Cate, go ahead," he assured me.

I let go of him and walked back in. Carlisle was stitching Bella up in his office. The moment I walked in I saw Bella scoot farther away from me, "Bella you're fine," I assured her.

She looked at me bamboozled before looking at the blood still on her arm as Carlisle stitched, "How are you so in control?" She asked.

I shrugged, "I just am," I avoided, walking up to her and watched Carlisle as he repeatedly stuck the little needle and thread into her arm. When he finished I offered to drive her home.

"Edward can drive me," She insisted, "But thank you," She added.

When they'd left I stuck around to help Carlisle clean his office. But I had an ulterior motive for doing so. I wanted more answers.